“Nicole played a critical role in raising the funding that TearScience needed to commercialize our breakthrough evaporative dry eye treatment,” said Tim Willis, chief executive officer of TearScience.  “Her success and broad financial management experience has been a tremendous asset to us.  This promotion is well deserved.  With Nicole’s continued leadership, TearScience will be on solid financial ground during this next phase of rapid expansion.”

In May, 2010, TearScience raised $44.5 million Series C financing, one of the largest med tech venture capital funding of 2010.

Nicole served as CFO for several companies and recently led the successful transition of companies from the startup stage through acquisition or initial public offering (IPO) including SmartPath and Motricity.  Following graduation from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Nicole started her career with Ernst & Young in the Entrepreneurial Services group, where she worked 11 years and swiftly became lead financial executive in numerous SEC filings, IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, including Highwoods Properties, Divot Golf Corporation, BTI, General Parts, Intellikey, and Optometric Eye Care Center.

“TearScience is redefining how eye care physicians manage evaporative dry eye,” added Wicker.  “I’m very pleased to be part of such an important advance in the eye care industry that will help millions of dry eye sufferers.”

TearScience manufactures and sells a complete system for eye care physicians to assess and treat patients for evaporative dry eye disease.  The system is comprised of the LipiFlow^® Thermal Pulsation System and the LipiView^® Ocular Surface Interferometer.  LipiFlow^® heats and applies gentle pressure to a patient’s eyelid in order to liquefy and evacuate obstructions in Meibomian glands during a 12-minute in-office procedure. The goal of unblocking the glands is to allow them to resume their natural production of lipids required for a healthy tear film.

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 86 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. Common symptoms of the disease include eye irritation, dryness, redness, tiredness, and visual disturbances. TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed Meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.tearscience.com.

Media Contact:                                                         
Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

# # #

“TearScience is committed to furthering the research, knowledge, understanding and treatment of evaporative dry eye disease,” said Tim Willis, CEO of TearScience.  “Our posters are a reflection of our culture of ongoing research and innovation.  Our mission is to provide the most relevant and profitable products to physicians so they can provide improved care and optimize outcomes for the millions of patients who suffer from evaporative dry eye.”

ARVO’s mission is to encourage and assist research, training, publishing and disseminating knowledge in vision and ophthalmology.  Its multidisciplinary membership consists of scientist, clinicians and basic researchers.

TearScience’s system includes two medical devices, the LipiView^® Ocular Surface Interferometer and the LipiFlow^® Thermal Pulsation System.  Evaporative dry eye occurs when Meibomian glands in the eyelids become obstructed and do not secrete the oily lipids needed to keep the water portion of tears from evaporating too quickly.  LipiView^® captures detailed digital images to allow physicians to assess a dry eye patient’s tear film while the LipiFlow^® treats evaporative dry eye disease by unblocking obstructed Meibomian glands located in the eyelids during a 12-minute in-office procedure.  The goal of unblocking the glands is to allow them to resume their natural production of lipids needed for a healthy tear film.

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 86 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. Common symptoms of the disease include eye irritation, dryness, redness, tiredness, and visual disturbances. TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed Meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.tearscience.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

 # # #

TearScience exceeded $1 million in sales at ASCRS. Due to the overwhelming response, the company is ahead of its forecast and will have systems placed in more than 40 premier ophthalmic practices in North America by July 1, 2012.

“By treating physicians at ASCRS, many were able to experience the effectiveness, comfort, and safety of LipiFlow® first hand,” said Jeff O’Hara, TearScience’s vice president of sales for North America. “We are delighted with the results of our program at ASCRS. It was the perfect opportunity for us to reach a broad base of physicians and increase their awareness of the clinical data and science behind LipiFlow®, and the success that early adopters are having on a previously underserved patient population.”

The live, in-booth LipiFlow® treatments were performed by Parag Majmudar, M.D. of Chicago Cornea Consultants and Mitchell A. Jackson, M.D. of Jacksoneye, Inc. LipiFlow® is designed to treat a primary cause of evaporative dry eye disease, obstructed Meibomian glands. The treatment uses precisely controlled heat and pulsatile pressure applied to the eyelids to unblock obstructed Meibomian glands during a 12-minute procedure. LipiFlow® allows the Meibomian glands to resume their natural production of lipids needed for a healthy tear film.

“I recently started using LipiFlow® as part of TearScience’s latest clinical study,” said John A. Hovanesian, M.D., of Harvard Eye Associates, Laguna Hills, CA, and clinical instructor at Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles. “My experience with LipiFlow confirmed the positive reports I have heard from physicians who participated in the first FDA study and from early commercial users. LipiFlow® works. My colleagues are beginning to pay attention to this disruptive, new technology as early adopters will be able to benefit previously underserved patient populations and be on the leading edge of dry eye patient care.”

ASCRS allowed hundreds of physicians to be educated by colleagues on the TearScience® offering for evaporative dry eye by witnessing live demonstrations, listening to presentations at the company’s breakfast symposium, exhibit booth, and as part of the formal education program of ASCRS, as well as through features in the EyeWorld show daily.

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 86 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. Common symptoms of the disease include eye irritation, dryness, redness, tiredness, and visual disturbances. TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed Meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.tearscience.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

# # #

Additionally, TearScience will host in-booth presentations by leading physicians who will cover the clinical aspects of LipiFlow® and how the treatment can be implemented successfully into an eye care practice. For a schedule of live LipiFlow treatments and physician presentations, visit TearScience’s ASCRS Web page.

TearScience will host an ASCRS-sponsored Corporate Morning meeting on Saturday, April 21, 2012 where attendees can learn about the latest advances in treating Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) with LipiFlow®. The panel discussion will be moderated by John A. Hovanesian, MD. The panelists include Alan Carlson, MD, Sheldon Herzig, MD, Jay McDonald II, MD, Parag Majmudar, MD and Cherry Tabb, CEO of Herzig Eye Institute. To register for this event, visit the EyeWorld Education Web page.

TearScience will also be an exhibitor at Cornea Day (Table Top Display #24), to be held on Friday, April 20, 2012, at McCormick Place West from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 86 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. Common symptoms of the disease include eye irritation, dryness, redness, tiredness, and visual disturbances. TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed Meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.tearscience.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

# # #

“A New System, the LipiFlow, for the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD),” which will be published in the April 2012 issue of Cornea (31:396-404), was co-authored by Stephen S. Lane, MD; Harvey B. Dubiner, MD; Randy J. Epstein, MD; Paul H. Ernest, MD; Jack V. Greiner, DO, PhD; David R. Hardten, MD; Edward J. Holland, MD; Michael A. Lemp, MD; James E. McDonald II, MD; David I. Silbert, MD; Caroline A. Blackie, OD, PhD; Christy A. Stevens, OD, MPH; and Raman Bedi, MD. The article can be accessed for free online at Cornea’s web site.

The clinical study was supported by TearScience® and involved nine U.S.-based investigational centers and 139 patients (278 eyes). It compared results for patients treated with a single LipiFlow® treatment to a warm compress control for the treatment of MGD. The average total Meibomian gland score for patients who received a single LipiFlow® treatment more than doubled from 6.3 + 3.5 at the baseline to 16.7 + 8.7 at 4 weeks. The increase in the average total Meibomian score reflected an improvement in both the quality and quantity of Meibomian glands secreting lipids, which keep the water portion of tears from evaporating too quickly, as compared to before the LipiFlow® treatment. Two different recognized symptom questionnaires were used in the study: the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). The average total SPEED score for patients who received a single LipiFlow® treatment decreased from 14.3 + 4.8 at the baseline to 7.6 + 5.8 at 4 weeks, demonstrating a mean reduction in dry eye symptoms. Similarly, the average OSDI score decreased from 32.0 + 20.0 at baseline to 16.6 + 18.1 at 4 weeks.

In the study, there were no serious device-related adverse events reported for the LipiFlow® System. Non-serious device-related adverse events included moderate eyelid pain during treatment (3eyes) and transient, moderate eye redness after treatment (1 eye).

“Managing dry eye disease has recently emerged as a hot topic in ophthalmology,” said Stephen S. Lane, MD of Associated Eye Care in Stillwater, Minnesota. “To date, both dry eye patients and physicians have been frequently frustrated with traditional treatment options. The size and control of this study coupled with the outstanding results make this one of the most encouraging treatments for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and evaporative dry eye sufferers since I became an ophthalmologist. Results this encouraging are often seen in single-center studies but may not be confirmed when subjected to a large multi-center, controlled clinical trial such as this.”

LipiFlow®, which applies heat and gentle pressure to a patient’s eyelid, is designed to liquefy and evacuate obstructions in Meibomian glands during a 12-minute in-office procedure. The goal of unblocking the glands is to allow them to resume their natural production of lipids required for a healthy tear film. TearScience® manufactures and sells a complete system for eye care physicians, which is comprised of the LipiFlow® and the LipiView® Ocular Surface Interferometer, which allows physicians to assess a patient’s tear film.

“TearScience®’s focus is to provide physicians the ability to help their patients who are plagued by chronic evaporative dry eye,” said Brian Regan, vice president of Marketing and Market Development for TearScience. “LipiFlow®, which addresses a root cause of evaporative dry eye, the obstructed Meibomian glands, is a dramatic shift from traditional dry eye symptom management.”

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 86 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is caused by Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. Common symptoms of the disease include eye irritation, dryness, redness, tiredness, and visual disturbances. TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed Meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.tearscience.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

The panel will include:
• Vipin Garg Ph.D., CEO, Tranzyme Pharma as moderator
• David Levison, CEO, CardioDX
• Neal Fowler, CEO, Liquidia Technologies
• Mark A. Sirgo, Pharma.D., CEO, BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.
• Tim Willis, CEO and co-founder, TearScience.

“I look forward to participating on this panel along with other leaders of thriving life science companies,” said Tim Willis. “I’m happy to share my experience on how to successfully bring a new breakthrough technology to market with aspiring entrepreneurs.”

TearScience provides a system that helps eye care physicians treat patients who suffer from evaporative dry eye. Evaporative dry eye occurs when meibomian glands in the eyelids become obstructed and do not secrete the oily lipids needed to keep the water portion of tears from evaporating too quickly. TearScience’s system includes two medical devices, the LipiView® Ocular Surface Interferometer and the LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation System. LipiView® captures detailed digital images to allow physicians to assess a dry eye patient’s tear film while the LipiFlow® treats evaporative dry eye disease by unblocking obstructed meibomian glands located in the eyelids during a 12-minute in-office procedure. The goal of unblocking the glands is to allow them to resume their natural production of lipids needed for a healthy tear film.
“The CED Life Science Conference represents one of the largest annual gatherings of the life science community in the Southeast,” said Joan Siefert Rose, CED president. “We are proud to feature many of the Triangle’s best emerging life science companies during the Emerging Company Showcase and their CEOs on the CEO panel.”

Industry professionals may attend the conference by registering on-site at the Raleigh Convention Center on February 15 or 16. For a full conference agenda, visit http://www.cednc.org/lifescience.

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 80 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. Common symptoms of the disease include eye irritation, dryness, redness, tiredness, and visual disturbances. TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.tearscience.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

The new LipiFlow® console incorporates an enhanced graphical user interface by controlling pressure and displaying the treatment temperature, pressure sequence and treatment time remaining. The new LipiFlow® also allows physicians to store a record of the treatment on the device and on electronic medical record servers, eliminating the need to manually document the treatment in patient records.

LipiFlow®’s second generation product also allows physicians to treat two eyes simultaneously. Time savings achieved by performing a bilateral treatment is beneficial for both busy physicians and patients alike.

“We are pleased to have received FDA clearance for the second generation LipiFlow® to offer to our current and future customers,” said Tim Willis, chief executive officer and co-founder of TearScience. “The improvements in this next generation LipiFlow® reflect TearScience’s commitment to innovation. TearScience expects to provide many more enhancements that will assist physicians in treating dry eye sufferers efficiently, effectively and profitably.”

TearScience’s second generation LipiFlow® product will be commercially available in March 2012. Physicians currently using TearScience’s first generation LipiFlow® will be upgraded to the new system.

TearScience sells its LipiFlow® and LipiView® Ocular Surface Interferometer devices as a system for eye care practices. The LipiView® enables physicians to visualize the eye’s tear film. LipiView® won the 2011 Medical Design Excellence Award.

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye. Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 80 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film. The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease. Common symptoms of the disease include eye irritation, dryness, redness, tiredness, and visual disturbances. TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed meibomian glands. For additional information, visit www.tearscience.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

# # #

MORRISVILLE, N.C.,— January 3, 2012—TearScience, Inc., a venture funded medical device company, today announced it has been granted several patents on its LipiView^® Ocular Surface Interferometer medical device.  The LipiView^® allows eye care physicians to assess the tear film of dry eye patients.

The LipiView^® uses interferometric imaging to capture, manipulate, analyze, and store digital images of the tear film.  TearScience’s patents (7,758,190; 7,988,294; and D614,774) cover the interferometric technology and product design required to measure the lipid layer thickness of the tear film and methods for acquiring the digital images.

“We are proud to have been granted these patents on the LipiView^®,” said Tim Willis, chief executive officer and co-founder of TearScience. “The patents validate the uniqueness of the LipiView^® technology and product while demonstrating TearScience’s inventive culture.  LipiView^® is a significant advance in assessing the tear films of dry eye patients.”

TearScience’s technology platform is a complete system comprised of the LipiView^® and an evaporative dry eye treatment device, the LipiFlow^® Thermal Pulsation System.  LipiFlow^® is designed to treat a primary cause of evaporative dry eye disease, obstructed meibomian glands.  It uses precisely controlled heat and pressure applied to the eyelids to unblock obstructed meibomian glands during a 12-minute in-office procedure.  The LipiFlow^® treatment allows the meibomian glands to resume their natural production of lipids needed for a healthy tear film.

TearScience has a host of patents pending on its LipiFlow^® technology.  For a full list of TearScience’s patents, visit TearScience’s patent web page.

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience^® has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye.  Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 65 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film.  The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease.  TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed meibomian glands.  For additional information, visit www.TearScience.com.

Media Contact:
Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

Morrisvile, N.C.,—December 5, 2011—TearScience, Inc., a privately-held medical device company, today announced Toronto-based Herzig Eye Institute, one of the leading authorities in laser vision correction and advanced cataract and refractive surgery, as its first Center of Excellence.

As a Center of Excellence, Herzig Eye Institute will educate eye care practices on how best to successfully implement TearScience’s LipiFlow^® Thermal Pulsation System within a busy practice setting.  TearScience’s system effectively distinguishes and treats one of the primary causes of dry eye disease.

“Herzig Eye Institute is one of the most innovative eye care centers in North America,” said Jeff O’Hara, vice president of North American sales.  “Herzig is the perfect model for helping other eye care practices become effective at integrating the LipiFlow treatment.  Given Herzig’s excellent clinical results using LipiFlow and how they have optimized patient flow, Herzig serves as a model of efficiency from which others can benefit.”

Evaporative dry eye is caused by a deficiency in the lipid layer of the eye’s natural tear film, resulting from blockages in the lipid-producing meibomian glands located in the eyelids, called meibomian gland dysfunction.  A lipid deficiency can lead to evaporation of tears at a faster rate than normal, which can leave eyes feeling dry, irritated, tired, and red.  TearScience’s LipiFlow system unblocks and evacuates obstructed meibomian glands during a 12 minute in-office procedure under the care of a physician.  Post treatment, the meibomian glands may resume their natural production of lipids needed for a healthy tear film.

“Herzig Eye Institute is very pleased to be TearScience’s first Center of Excellence,” said Dr. Sheldon Herzig, co-founder and medical director of the Herzig Eye Institute.  “The Center of Excellence concept is a valuable service that TearScience provides to forward-thinking eye care practices embracing dry eye treatment as a new service.  We are glad to assist other eye care professionals in implementing this important treatment system to better serve dry eye patients.”

TearScience’s system is comprised of the LipiView® Ocular Surface Interferometer and the LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System.  LipiView allows physicians to image the tear film of dry eye patients.  LipiFlow applies precise directed energy in a combination of heat and pulsatile pressure to a patient’s eyelids to facilitate the release of lipids from blocked meibomian glands.

About TearScience, Inc.
Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience^® has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye.  Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 65 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film.  The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease.  TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed meibomian glands.  For additional information, visit www.TearScience.com.

About Herzig Eye Institute
The Herzig Eye Institute has treated thousands of patients from across Canada, 42 US states and 23 countries worldwide.  The Herzig Eye Institute is led by Co-Founder and Medical Director Sheldon Herzig, MD, FRCSC, a world-renowned expert in his field and past president of the Canadian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeon who prepared the Recommended Safety Guidelines for Laser Refractive Centres in Canada and Co-Founder and CEO Cherry Tabb, recipient of the RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Innovations.  The Herzig Eye Institute’s High Definition Vision® solutions utilize only the most advanced vision correction technology as well as other proven intraocular surgical procedures for patients who do not qualify for laser surgery.  The Herzig Eye Institute also offers treatments for presbyopia including NearVision CK, Monovision LASIK, Refractive Lens Exchange, the Intraocular Collamer Lens (ICL), as well as providing Advanced Cataract Solutions.  The Herzig Eye Institute is the only custom vision correction surgical centre in North America to be awarded the prestigious ISO 9001 certification by SGS International Certification Services, Inc.

Media Contact:

Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

# # #

Durham, N.C.,— October 25, 2011—TearScience, Inc., a venture funded medical device company, today announced that Duke Eye Center, an academic research and education-based university eye care center, has purchased TearScience’s LipiFlow Thermal Pulsation System, a breakthrough treatment for evaporative dry eye disease and meibomian gland dysfunction.  Duke Eye Center focuses on the latest technology, research, and education to provide the most advanced patient care, including the management of dry eye disease.

“The LipiFlow system is a new approach to evaporative dry eye, a condition that is as common as cataracts,” according to Dr. Alan Carlson, chief of corneal and refractive surgery at Duke Eye Center.  “LipiFlow is an advance in treating evaporative dry eye and could change the management of patients who have needed something more than we have been able to offer them until now.”

TearScience’s LipiFlow system is designed to treat blockages of the meibomian glands, which produce the lipids (oil) required for a healthy tear film, during a non-invasive procedure administered at an eye care office.  LipiFlow uses a precise combination of heat and gentle pulsatile pressure applied to a patient’s eyelids to unblock obstructed glands, allowing the glands to resume the natural production of lipids.

In the U.S alone, an estimated $3.8 billion is spent annually directly in treating dry eye and that number is growing. Additionally, the indirect cost to society of lost productivity related to dry eye is estimated at $55.8 billion annually.

“Dry eye can be very debilitating,” added Carlson.  “It can negatively impact a person’s lifestyle, particularly for those who suffer from moderate to severe dry eye.  On average, LipiFlow provides symptomatic improvement for patients and improves meibomian gland secretions.”

Duke Eye Center specializes in treating some of the most challenging eye problems including dry eye, macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts.  The center provides state-of-the-art eye care to more than 130,000 patients annually.  Dr. Carlson is a leader in cataract, refractive, and corneal surgery having published more than 100 articles, book chapters, and instructional surgical videos highlighting his interest in the management and prevention of surgical complications.  Carlson has also been named to several best doctor lists for 15 consecutive years.

“Dr. Carlson and the Duke Eye Center are well known for an innovative and caring approach to patient care,” said Tim Willis, president and CEO of TearScience.  “We are delighted to have them as one of the first in the U.S. to implement our breakthrough solution for evaporative dry eye sufferers.”

TearScience’s technology platform is comprised of the LipiView Ocular Surface Interferometer and the LipiFlowThermal Pulsation System.  LipiView allows physicians to visualize the tear film of patients with dry eye disease.

About TearScience, Inc.

Headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, TearScience has pioneered devices that provide significant clinical improvement in the treatment of evaporative dry eye.  Of the more than 100 million dry eye sufferers worldwide, approximately 65 percent have evaporative dry eye, which is often caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and a lipid deficiency of the eye’s natural tear film.  The Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop, involving two years of work by 50 leading experts from around the world, concluded that MGD is an under-estimated condition and is very likely the most frequent cause of dry eye disease.  TearScience’s integrated, in-office system enables eye care professionals to effectively address a root cause of evaporative dry eye, obstructed meibomian glands.  For additional information, visit www.TearScience.com.

About Duke Eye Center

Duke Eye Center seeks to preserve and restore eye sight by providing the highest quality and most complete health care to our patients.  By sharing knowledge, skills and the latest breakthroughs in eye care with patients, we strive to improve ophthalmic treatments and patient outcomes.  Duke Eye Center is dedicated to finding cures for blinding eye diseases.

Media Contacts:

Mary Hecht-Kissell
TearScience
mhkissell@tearscience.com
(919) 459-4803

Justin Hammond
Duke Eye Center
justin.hammon@duke.edu
(919) 668-1345